Eagle Island State Park

Saturday we spent a fun afternoon at Eagle Island State Park. What a fun discovery that was!! We hadn't been there before, but we will definitely be going back!

We brought a picnic lunch with us, so we ate and then a park ranger guy came by and gave us a free frisbee (score!) so Bryson played frisbee with Nathan and Kayla (who retrieved the runaway frisbee) while Benson, Lily and I chilled in the shade.

There is a lake there with a nice beach and a big swimming area. The kids had fun playing in the water for awhile, but I didn't get any pictures of that. . . bummer.

After playing in the water, we found a nice quiet fishing spot. Here are Bryson and Nathan picking out the perfect fat worm.

Kayla is against smiling for pictures, so I just had to say her name and snap the picture before she could refuse. :)

Cute Lily. :)

And we caught fish number one!

And then fish number two !!

All the kids wanted to touch the fish (yuck). Even Kayla!



At the end of the afternoon, everyone was too tired to walk out to the car, so Bryson gave Nathan and Lily a piggy back ride (one at a time), while pushing Benson in the stroller. What a guy!

And here is Nathan, asking me to take his picture while drinking water. Silly kid. :)


It was a super fun day!

Hight Priest Group BBQ

So, after being Elder's Quorum president for 2 1/2 years, Bryson got released and got called to be the Stake Clerk (3 1/2 months ago. . .I think that's what put me in labor--Benson was born just hours after the call. :)

Anyway, so we got to attend our first High Priest Group activity. The reason I post this is that it seemed more like a Primary Activity! There were so many kids!!! The group leader works at a rental place and set up the big blow up bouncy water slide. There are quite a few young families in the group, so it was kind of funny to think of it with like 40 kids--most of them primary age. Not your typical activity for old folks. :)

Here's Nathan and his best friend, Nathan. They had a lot of fun going down the slide together.

Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of Bryson going down the slide with Lily. But I know others did, so I'll have to snag those pics. Anyway, it was a super fun activity!

Weekend in Walla Walla

This past week, I took the kids and headed up to Walla Walla. Bryson came up for just the weekend. During that time, I taught my mom how to can chicken and steak, we helped paint my parents house, celebrated my Grandpa's 92nd birthday, and made 10 batches of freezer jam. It was a very productive week!

Jana and Brad came up for the weekend, also. It was fun to see Benson and Brooks together again!


They are sure growing up fast!! 3 months old already!


Nathan, Lily, and Kayla had lots of fun at my Uncle Jim's-- where we had Grandpa's birthday party.

I think most of our eyes are open in this picture. . .

Grandpa Gilbert (92) and Benson (3 months)

We had such a great time that I ended up staying an extra day. :) It is good to be home now, though and back into our routine (or trying to get back into it).

Happy 9th Anniversary!!

Bryson and I are celebrating our 9th anniversary today! Wow the time flies!!! I dug up some pictures to post of our dating and engagement. Fun stuff. :)

I love you, Bryson!!

Our day in Cascade

Last week Bryson had to go to Cascade for work (about 2 hours north), so we decided to make a little family day trip out of it! We got up there, dropped Bryson off at the courthouse and then had a picnic at a nearby park. Bryson walked over to meet us when he was done (no, he didn't wear shorts and a hat to court). After lunch we all played at the park for a little while.

Then we found a little pond to go fishing in. It was so pretty there.

Bryson has taken the kids fishing a a few times lately, with no luck.

But they finally caught their first fish!!

And a second fish!! Yes they were small, but they were fish and the kids were excited! :)

(we put them back so they can get a little bigger for next time)

We love the sweet boy!

And here's a picture of all the kids. . . happy!!

Celebrating the 24th

It's become a tradition for our family that for the 24th of July, we go over to Chesterfield, Idaho for a family reunion with Bryson's side. His parents retired a few years ago and spend the summers over there to escape the heat of Mesquite and also because they used to live and farm there. We always have a great time being with family, visiting the pioneer town site, and attending the parade in the "big" city of Bancroft, Idaho (population 382).

I have lots of pictures to share, so beware!

Here is the best picture we could get of the grandkids. :)

Here's uncle Maurie helping Nathan saw some firewood for our campfire.

Making smores!

Uncle Brad taking all the boys on a 4-wheeler ride!

Beautiful Bela having fun with Grammy's box of kleenex!

Nathan, Cameron and Connor. . . having fun.:)

Bryson sweating up a storm as he barbequed dinner for all of us one night!

Here's my lovely view of the parade. . . but I got to be back in the shade with Benson.

After the parade, we had a picnic and the kids ran in the races. Lily did such a good job in her age group! What a speedy!

Nathan came in a close second in his race!



After the parade and races in Bancroft, we headed over to Soda Springs (where Bryson was born) where we enjoyed some milkshakes at the Arctic Circle and then visited the geyser.

Nathan had a blast playing some card games with his cousins!

Bryson took some time one night to teach a bunch of the kids how to play the Farming Game. Those kids had so much fun! They were ages 3 to 11. :) He did a great job keeping all of their attention for quite a while!

Nathan, Cooper and Cameron are good buddies. They were all born within 3 months of each other. If only we all lived closer together!!

Nathan and Cameron saying one last good-bye.

By the last night, Kayla and Meilee finally got go be good friends. That says a lot for them both being 2 year old girls!!

Nathan and Lily with Pa.

We sure had a fun time seeing everyone--even during the crazy times!!!

Celebrating the 4th

I want to get a few things updated on my blog. . . time never seems to be on my side, though. :)

We blessed Benson on the 4th of July! That was very exciting for me. It just so happens that all of my kids have been blessed on a major holiday. . . not really on purpose, it has just worked out that way. Nathan was blessed on Easter, Lily on Christmas, Kayla on Thanksgiving, and Benson on the 4th of July.

He is such a sweet baby. At his two month appointment (well, he was almost 2 1/2 months) he weighed 13 lbs 14 oz. He is in the 80th percentile for both height and weight. He's been sleeping through the night (7 or 8PM to 7 or 8AM) since he was 9 weeks old. Good boy!!

We all love him and are so happy to have him in our family!